Killer driver’s sentence adequate, family told
Anger as Government refuses increase term after hit and run
THE Attorney General has turned down a plea from the family of a bus driver who died in a hit-and-run to have the sentence of his killer increased.
Ghulam Nabi, a 61-year-old grandfather and father-of-four, from Alum Rock, died as he made his way to work as a bus driver in Great Barr Street, Digbeth, on the morning of August 29, 2021.
Raihan Ahmed, 20, of Langdale Road, Great Barr, was jailed at Birmingham Crown Court in November for three years and eight months and banned from the roads for four years and ten months.
The sentence was criticised as inadequate by Mr Nabi’s family and they called upon the Attorney General to refer it to the Court Of Appeal.
Mr Nabi’s younger brother, Jamil Arif, 54, says they have been devastated for a second time after the Attorney General wrote back expressing his deepest condolences but stressing he was satisfied that the judge applied the relevant guidelines and followed the correct sentencing guidelines.
Mr Arif, from Washwood Heath, said: “I was speechless then the frustration kicked in. I just wanted justice, I wasn’t asking for anything else.
“He will be out in a year’s time and that’s him back to normal, living life. It’s never going to be the same for us.
“There was a time when I thought the law was just but my opinion has changed – we are going to suffer for the rest of our lives.”
The Attorney General said in a letter: “I appreciate that sentences deemed to be within a reasonable range from a legal perspective may not be considered appropriate by victims of crime.
“Unfortunately, the test for undue leniency is so strictly applied that it would have been wrong for me to refer this case after having concluded that the Court of Appeal would be unlikely to increase the sentence.
“I am very sorry that I am not able to give Mr Nabi’s family the need that they were hoping for but please be assured that I have given your request in this case the most careful consideration.”
It has emerged that Mr Nabi would donate his wages earned on a Sunday – the day he was killed – to charity.
Cllr Majid Mahmood (Lab, Bromford, Hodge Hill) who is a friend and helped Mr Nabi’s family with their legal submission, said: “I am upset that the decision has been taken not to refer the unduly lenient sentence to the Court of Appeal.
“I am still disgusted with the sentencing although I understand that the judge was following the guidelines set. We will be arranging a meeting with our MP Liam Byrne (Hodge Hill) to seek his support to amend legislation.”